Human Waste System

ABSTRACT

In one aspect of the present invention, a system for the transportation of liquid and solid waste incorporated into a floor of a building has a generally horizontal pipe with a first and second end. A motor is disposed at the first end and an auger is disposed in and along at least a portion of a length of the pipe and is in communication with the motor. The auger is adapted to the transport of liquid and solid waste along the at least a portion of the length of the pipe.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/039,581,which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/039,553, which was filed on Feb. 28, 2008 and entitled Sewer System.All of these references are herein incorporated by reference for allthat they contain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The current invention relates to sewer systems. In some situations it isvery difficult to drain and transport liquid and solid waste.Consequently, many efforts have been made to develop a more effectiveway to drain and transport liquid and solid waste.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,585 to Ruyle, which is herein incorporated byreference for all that it contains discloses a system for pumping afluid of variable consistency into a fluid container. The systemincludes a vacuum power assist auger to withdraw fluid upwardly from areservoir. A hose connecting an outlet end of the power assist auger toa fluid inlet at one end of a booster pump assembly is provided tosupply fluid to the fluid inlet. A fluid outlet is provided at anotherend of the booster pump assembly. The fluid outlet is connected to aloading pipe so that the fluid is forced by the booster pump assemblythrough the fluid outlet and the loading pipe to the fluid container. Avacuum is created by the booster pump assembly in the hose so that fluidof a variable consistency may be withdrawn easily from the reservoir bythe power assist auger and the booster pump assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,193 to Linscott, which is herein incorporated byreference for all that it contains, discloses a sanitary sump pumpdevice having a pump tube and an auger therein , said pump, tube andauger structure being made in sections for purposes of increasing anddecreasing the material elevating distance of the pump , and couplingmeans for joining the pump tube elements, each to its succeedingsection, means at the lower end of the lower pump tube section forrevolvably supporting the auger section therein, and a single inwardlyextending support arm carried by each pump tube coupling element forholding an antifriction bearing in a position centered on the centeraxis of the pump tube assembly, an antifriction bearing, saidantifriction bearing being held in said holder therefore, the upper endof each pump tube section and its respective auger pump shaft end beingrevolvably carried in its respective antifriction bearing and extendingthereabove, the upper extending auger pump shaft end being multisided,the lower end of the succeeding auger pump shaft section having socketthereon, said socket being multisided for receiving, and having themultisided end of the preceding auger pump shaft end fitted and seatedtherein.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,670 to Fechter et al., which is herein incorporatedby reference for all it contains, discloses a pump for conveying wastewater and the like embodying a substantially vertically arrangeddrivable screw mounted for rotation within a fixed pipe having an inletat the lower and thereof and an outlet at the upper end thereof. Atleast one upstanding baffle is mounted below the screw and in thevicinity of the inlet with at least the upper portion of the baffleextending in the direction of conveyance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a sewer system for thetransportation of liquid and solid waste incorporated into a floor of abuilding has a generally horizontal pipe with a first and second end. Amotor is disposed at the first end and an auger is disposed in and alongat least a portion of a length of the horizontal pipe and is incommunication with the motor. The auger is adapted to the transport theliquid and solid waste along the at least a portion of the length of thehorizontal pipe.

The auger may comprise a material selected from a group consisting ofsteel, aluminum, composite, rubber, plastic or combinations thereof. Theauger may have at least one joint. The auger may have a thin layerprotective coating. The thin layer protective coating may comprisetitanium nitride. The auger may be adapted to clean an inside surface ofthe horizontal pipe. The auger may have a rubber blade. The system mayhave a plurality of augers. The different augers may rotate at differenttorques and/or speeds.

The system may be in electrical communication with a toilet. The systemmay be in electrical communication with a shower or tub drain. Thesystem may be in electrical communication with a floor drain. The systemmay be in electrical communication with a washing machine, a dishwasher,a sink or combinations thereof The system may have a plurality ofhorizontal pipes. The system may have a plurality of augers. The systemmay have a plurality of motors.

The motor may be activated by a sensor, a timer, a switch, orcombinations thereof. The motor may be disposed within a protectivegenerally water proof casing. The horizontal pipe may have at least oneelbow. The sewer system may be in fluid communication with an anaerobicdigester. At least one shared pipe connects generally horizontal pipesof at least two buildings.

In another aspect of the invention, a toilet comprises a bowl and afluid pathway connected to a sewer system. An auger is disposed withinthe fluid pathway and the auger is adapted to suck the waste out of thebowl. The fluid pathway may comprise a siphon with a U-shaped portion.The auger may be disposed within the U-shaped portion or it may bedisposed between the U-shaped portion and the bowl or the sewer system.In some embodiments, a digestion chemical is injected into the bowl orthe sewer system when the auger is activated. The auger may be activatedby pressing a button, pushing a handle or activating a motion sensor.The auger may be driven by an electric motor which may be disposedoutside of the toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment a sewer system.

FIG. 1 a is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment a sewersystem.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 2 a is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of an embodiment of an auger.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a motor.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a motor.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a motor.

FIG. 11 a is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a motor.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a sewersystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of the invention. A building 101shares a sewer system 110 with an adjacent building 2101. Both buildings101, 2101 are equipped with substantially horizontal pipes disposedwithin the floors and or ceilings and are in fluid communication withtoilets 116, tubs, washing machines 118, dishwashers, sinks and otherfacilities that expel waste into the sewer system. An auger 115 in thehorizontal pipes 111 moves sewage in a generally horizontal fashionwithin the floor from one end of the pipe to another end, where it isdumped into shared pipes 2104 located is a utility space 2102 betweenthe buildings which direct the sewage to an anaerobic digester 2103. Theanaerobic digester 2103 uses micro-organisms to break down the sewageand turn it into CO2, methane, and soil nutrients. Preferably theproducts of the anaerobic digester are re-used in the vicinity of thebuildings such as in gardens or powering machines and vehicles. Theauger 115 allows a horizontal pipe to be used in the sewer system whichallows for thinner floors since traditionally the sewer systemincorporate a sloped pipe or drain to transport the sewage. The thinnerfloors give more freedom to building designers and save on materialcosts.

FIG. 1 a is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a building101. The building 101 may comprise at least one floor 102 and at leastone generally vertical vent pipe 103. The at least one generallyvertical vent pipe 103 may be disposed within a wall 104 of the building101. The at least one vent pipe 103 may comprise a drainage end 105 anda ventilation end 106. The ventilation end 106 of the vent pipe 103 maybe open to the outside atmosphere 107. The drainage end 105 of the ventpipe 103 may be in communication with a sewer pipe 108. The sewer pipe108 may have a downward slope and may drain into a sewer main 109 or aseptic tank 109.

The building 101 may comprise at least one sewer system 110 for thetransportation of liquid and solid waste 201 in the building 101. Thesystem 110 may be incorporated into the floor 102 of the building 101.The system 110 comprises a generally horizontal pipe 111 comprising afirst end 113 and a second end 112. The second end 112 of the horizontalpipe 111 may be in communication with the vent pipe 103. A motor 114 isdisposed at the first end 113 of the horizontal pipe 111 and may bedisposed within the floor 102. An auger 115 is disposed in and a long atleast a portion of a length of the horizontal pipe 111 and is incommunication with the motor 114.

The horizontal pipe 111 may be in physical communication with a toilet116, a shower drain, a tub drain 117, a floor drain, a washing machine118, a dishwasher, a sink 119, a garbage disposal, or combinationsthereof. The horizontal pipe 111 may be in physical communication withany machine or appliance that may expel liquid and/or solid waste 201.As liquid and/or solid waste 201 enters the horizontal pipe 111 themotor 114 is initiated and actuates the auger 115. As the auger 115 isrotated it pushes the liquid and/or solid waste 201 across the length ofthe horizontal pipe 111 and into the vent pipe 103. The vent pipe 103directs the liquid and/or solid waste 201 to the sewer pipe 108 whichdirects the liquid and/or solid waste 201 to the sewer main 109 orseptic tank 109. Gases produced in the horizontal pipe 111 and/or thevent pipe 103 may escape to the outside atmosphere 107 via theventilation end 106 of the vent pipe 103.

The auger 115 may comprise a material selected from a group consistingof steel, aluminum, composite, rubber, plastic or combinations thereof.The auger 115 may comprise a thin layer protective coating. The thinlayer protective coating may comprise titanium nitride. It is believedthat the thin layer protective coating may help prevent corrosion andwear on the auger 115.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 3, the auger 115 may be adapted toclean an inside surface 202 of the horizontal pipe 111. It is believedthat the auger 115 may prevent the horizontal pipe 111 from clogging byremoving accumulated scum 203, mineral deposits, or other forms ofbuild-up, from the inside surface 202 of the horizontal pipe 111 as theauger blade 204 scrapes the inside surface 202. The auger 115 maycomprise a rubber blade 301. The rubber blade 301 made may be beneficialin that it would reduce friction between the auger 115 and the insidesurface 202 of the horizontal pipe 111. The rubber blade 301 may alsoprove beneficial in that it may reduce the required tolerances whenmanufacturing the auger 115. In some embodiments, the auger 115 maycomprise a smaller diameter 2100 than the horizontal pipe 111, such asshown in FIG. 2 a.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 5, the system 110 may be in electricalcommunication with the toilet 116. As the toilet 116 is flushed thetoilet 116 communicates with the motor 114 activates it. The signal maybe an electric, magnetic, wireless, Bluetooth, infrared, or chemicalsignal. Once the motor 114 is activated the auger 115 is actuated andthe waste 201 is transported to the vent pipe 103. The toilet 116 maycomprise a transmitter 501 that transmits a signal 502 when the toilet116 is flushed. The motor 114 may comprise a receiver 401 adapted toreceive the signal 502 from the transmitter 501. The signal 502 may be awireless signal 502. The system 110 may also be in electricalcommunication with the shower drain, the tub drain 117, the floor draina washing machine 118, the dishwasher, the sink 119, the garbagedisposal, or combinations thereof. The system 110 may be in electricalcommunication with any machine or appliance that may expel liquid and/orsolid waste 201. The motor 114 may also be activated by a sensor, atimer, a switch, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the motorhas a pressure transducer, a moisture transducer, a chemical detector orcombinations thereof to determine when liquid has been expelled into thehorizontal pipe.

Referring to FIG. 6, the sewer system may comprise a first auger 601 anda second auger 602. The second auger 602 may have a wider diameter 605than the first auger 601. The horizontal pipe 111 may widen in diameterso as to accommodate the wider diameter 605 of the second auger 602. Thesecond auger 602 may be in communication with a second motor 603. Agearbox 604 may be disposed intermediated the second motor 603 and thesecond auger 602 and may transfer torque from the second motor 603 tothe second auger 602. The second auger 602 may rotate at a differenttorque and or speed than the first auger 601. One auger may be requiredto push a heavier load than the other auger (such as when one auger isdownstream of more devices adding waste into the system) and thereforemay require more torque.

FIGS. 7 though 8 disclose embodiments wherein the horizontal pipe 111may comprise at least one elbow 702. The auger 115 may comprise at leastone joint 701. The joint 701 may comprise at least one gear box 604, orat least one U joint 801. The joint 701 may allow toque to betransferred in the auger 115 across and past the elbow 702.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 though 11 a, the motor 114 may be disposedwithin a protective generally water proof casing 901. An o-ring 902 maybe disposed around the auger 115 or a motor shaft where the auger 115 ormotor shaft passes through the generally water proof casing 901. Themotor 114 may also be disposed within a hermetic casing 1001. The motor114 may be in communication with the auger 115 via a magnetic coupling1002 as shown in FIG. 10. The motor 114 may also be positioned withinthe floor 102 at an angle 1101 as shown in FIG. 11. The angle 1101 mayrange from 15 degrees to 85 degrees. The motor 114 may be incommunication with the auger 115 via a U joint 801 such that the motor114 may be able to transfer torque to the auger 115 even though themotor 114 may be positioned at an angle 1101. In the embodiment of Fig.11 a the motor is located outside of the toilet 116, but on the samefloor. The auger 115 is made of a flexible material that allows theauger to bend around the corner while it is rotating.

FIGS. 12 and 13 disclose an embodiment wherein the system 1210 or 1310may comprise a plurality of horizontal pipes 111, a plurality of augers115, and/or a plurality of motors 114. The plurality of motors 114, theplurality of augers 115 and the plurality of horizontal pipes 111 may beoriented such that one motor 114, one auger 115, and one horizontal pipe111 are disposed opposite another motor 114, another auger 115 andanother horizontal pipe 111 with both horizontal pipes 111 draining intothe vent pipe 1303.

FIGS. 14-16 are cross-sectional diagrams of embodiments of a toilet 116.The toilet comprises a bowl 2000 and a fluid pathway 2001 connected to asewer system 110. An auger 115 is disposed within the fluid pathway 2001and the auger 115 is adapted to suck the waste out of the bowl 2000. Thefluid pathway 2001 may comprise a siphon 2003 with a U-shaped portion2004. The auger 115 is disposed within the fluid pathway 2001 betweenthe U-shaped portion and the bowl 2002 in FIG. 14. In FIG. 15, the auger115 is disposed within the U-shaped portion 2004. The auger 115 may bemade of a flexible material which allows it bend as it rotates aroundthe U-shaped portion 2004. FIG. 16 discloses the auger 115 betweenU-shaped portion 2004 and the sewer system 110.

The auger 115 may be activated by pressing a button, pushing a handle2005 or activating a motion sensor. The auger 115 may be driven by anelectric motor 114 which may be disposed outside of the toilet. In someembodiments, a digestion chemical may be injected when the auger 115 isactivated. This allows the waste or sewage to begin to be broken upalmost immediately after the waste is removed from the bowl of thetoilet 116. The auger 115 may be driven by an electric motor, which maybe disposed outside of the toilet 116 although in some embodiments themotor 114 may be incorporated into the toilet 116.

The auger described in FIGS. 1-13 may also be adapted to suck the wasteout of the bowl of the toilet. Such a system has several advantages.Since the removal of the waste depends on the sucking motion of theauger, the amount of water traditionally used in flushing toilets is nowno longer required. This saves water and reduces the noise of flushing.Also with this system, since the amount of water required is greatlyreduced the sewage will be more concentrated allowing for easierdigestion. In some embodiments, the sewage is brought directly into adigestion processor such as an anaerobic digestion system. The auger mayalso provide the benefit of breaking down the sewage while it is beingtransported to the processor which will speed up the digestion process.In some embodiments a digestion chemical will be injected into thesewage system, the fluid pathway or the bowl as the auger is activatedto start the digestion process as early as possible.

In some aspects of the invention, a method for disposing of human wastecomprises the step of sucking the waste out of a bowl of a toilet byactivating an electrically controlled auger disposed in a fluid pathwayconnecting the bowl to a sewer system. The method may also include thestep of injecting a digestion chemical into the bowl or sewer systemwhen the auger is activated. The method may also include the step ofactivating the auger by pressing a button, pushing a handle oractivating a motion sensor.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relationto the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other andfurther modifications apart from those shown or suggested herein, may bemade within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A human waste system, comprising: a toilet and a sewer systemconnected by a fluid pathway; the sewer system comprises a pipeincorporated in the floor upon which the toilet is positioned; the fluidpathway comprises an auger adapted to suck waste out of a bowl of thetoilet.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein a digestion chemical isinjected into the pipe or the bowl when the auger is activated.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway comprises a siphon.
 4. Thetoilet of claim 3, wherein the auger is disposed within a U-shapedportion of the siphon.
 5. The toilet of claim 3, wherein the auger isdisposed between a U-shaped portion of the siphon and the bowl.
 6. Thetoilet of claim 3, wherein the auger is disposed between a U-shapedportion of the siphon and the sewer system.
 7. The system of claim 3,wherein the auger is made of a flexible material that allows the augerto bend while it rotates within the siphon.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the auger is adapted to breakup the waste as it sucks it out ofthe bowl.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the auger is activated by amotion sensor, a handle or a button.
 10. The system of claim 1, whereinthe auger is magnetically coupled to a motor.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein the auger is located within the toilet and a motor that drivesthe auger is located outside the toilet.
 12. The system of claim 1,wherein a blade of the auger is configured to provide minimal frictionwith an inside surface where the auger is located.